Michael Carroll Blog # 11

Arkansas Studies Institute, Little Rock, Ark.
Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects

This building stretching from Arkansas of Saudi Arabia library been singled out as more than just stellar examples of educational and cultural resource centers. The project combines three buildings of three different centuries and construction types into one site-sensitive architectural timeline, creating a pedestrian-focused gateway to the library campus and the public face of Arkansas history.

Library architecture are getting more fancier these days of design historic faces of Arkansas life, like large book marks in time. Architectures designed historical monument of library feel more historical times. The library crystallizes the architectural ambitions of this university as a contemporary global center for scientific thinking that is rooted in local cultural and place.  The architects worked with community members of all ages during numerous intensive design sessions to ensure the project would reflect the special character and unique needs of this urban community.

(http://www.durabilityanddesign.com/news/?fuseaction=view&id=5463)

KAUST Library, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
HOK

 

 

Hayden Smiley - Week 12 Blog Post

Elizabeth Tower

(Architect: Augustus Pugin)

The Elizabeth Tower, also known as "Big Ben", is an iconic symbol of London. This tower was completed in 1858 for Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee. The tower is attached to the Parliament building, and stands at 315 ft tall. This beautiful structure was designed by Augustus Pugin, and was his last creation. The tower is composed of brick and cast iron, and the clock at the top of the tower is famous for its reliability. 

As a tourist, I of course had to visit Big Ben. When I arrived at the tower, I was a little underwhelmed, and disappointed that I could not go inside. The tower was beautiful but I expected it to be much larger. But despite the size, the nostalgia of the tower and the sheer age of the parliament structure, was enough to keep my attention. The detailing on the tower is impeccable, and the attention to detail is something I was able to appreciate in much of European architecture. My experience of the Elizabeth tower architecture was positive and enlightening. I was able to appreciate the age, beauty, and craftsmanship of the structure and found the entire parliament structure to be quite impressive. Big Ben represents tradition, reliability, longevity, and strength. The stout shape of the tower eludes to a stable and lasting government, and I am glad I was able to experience this architecture in person.

Hayden Smiley - Week 11 Blog Post

Reunion Tower

(Architect: Welton Becket Associates)

The Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas is always a treat to visit. The tower stands at 561ft, and at the top of the building is a revolving restaurant that was opened by chef Wolf Gang Puck. The tower was built in 1978, and consists of three floors. The tower is held up by four shafts of poured-in-place concrete with a central shaft containing stairs and mechanical equipment. At night, the globe at the top of the building is illuminated with 259 custom LED fixtures.

Inside the dome, the restaurant is very unique. The floor in which the tables are placed rotates almost unnoticeably, providing the guests with a 360 degree view of the Dallas skyline. When I was younger, I loved going to the dome. Experiencing this architecture as a child was very thrilling. The revolving floor and spaceship like exterior transported my imagination to a futuristic world. My siblings and I would play a game where one of us would go to the restroom and wait for an extended period of time, and we would try and guess how far we would rotate from the restroom before our sibling would come out. It was an exciting environment for as a child, and I find it to be just as enjoyable as an adult. The shape of the building adds a unique element to the Dallas skyline, and has become iconic over the years. The interior architecture of the building is soothing, expensive, and elegant.  Overall the Reunion Tower, in my experience, has been positive and enjoyable due to the modern architecture and layout of the building

#12 William Adams - Bingen Tower

If you go down the Rhine river in Germany you may get the opportunity to see the Bingen Tower, also known as the Mouse Tower.  It is famous as being the place where the Bishop of Bingen died.  Here it is said that in revenge for his despotic nature an army of mice swam across the Rhine and over ran the tower.  There they gnawed the Bishop to death.  There is more to the folk tale, but this little tower is quite fun to visit.  I am impressed that they were able to build on that tiny island it stands on. 

#11 William Adams - Mysore Palace

Mysore palace is famous for its gardens.  These gardens are colorful and expansive.  I went with a group while I was in India.  Even before we got off the bus we were simply astounded by the level of work that the groundskeepers maintained.  The footpaths and hedges were immaculate and with the palace standing out large and imposing over these gardens made me think of the French palaces. 

#10 William Adams - Qutb Minar

When I was living in Delhi I would often go to the south part of the city and wander the neighborhoods there.  In these neighborhoods the streets would twist and turn and it was easy to get lost.  Many of the houses were 2-5 stories high and very close together, so finding your bearings was sometimes quite difficult.  Enter the Qutb Minar.  It is over 200 feet high and because the houses had exterior staircases we could simply walk up to the terrace and find the Minar.  From there we could easily get to where we wanted to go.  This 14^th century landmark helped me tremendously.

#8 William Adams - Winfield Hills

 

This was the house where I lived for a time.  My parents were just getting ready to retire and so they bought a piece of land out in the country and my Mom decided that she wanted to have the house look the way she wanted.  She drew several sketches and brought them to an architect to incorporate into the blueprint.  Once the plans were finalized I was “volunteered” against my will to assist the construction crew in building this house.  Because it was loosely designed by my Mom and partially built by myself I have lots of fond memories in this house.

#9 William Adams - Hisar Mosque

When I was a child I would run around barefoot in the streets of Izmir Turkey.  I was fluent in the language and culture, I was just a little more pale than the other street urchins.  I loved to go exploring and one day we wandering into the Hisar Mosque.  I broke away from my little posse and went looking for adventure in this gorgeous building.  It was built in the 16^th century and was very well kept.  I wandered among the rooms and eventually I was found by a kindly old priest and was escorted out.

#7 William Adams - Cappadocia

In eastern Turkey there are some jagged mountains with lots of caves.  People in the surrounding areas would live in these caves and over time would carve them out to be bigger.  A whole town came to be in these mountains.  In the 4^th century early Christians would take refuge in these cave-houses and would carve out chapels and worship places.  Because of the rugged terrain and the sturdy nature of the mountain caves it was easily hidden and defended.  Walking through these mountain tunnels made me aware of a sense of time that was on a vast scale.

Daniel Gutmann - #6

This is a rendering of the expansion of the Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium, home of the Oklahoma Sooners. Because I have seen so many football games here and plan to see many more, I think it is only appropriate to choose this as a blog post. The expansion of the south side of the stadium will make it a full bowl, something that OU has been waiting on for a long time. This can impact the school in numerous ways, all the way from athletics to making the school more appealing. This will be a great addition to the university and I cannot wait until next season when it is finished.

Daniel Gutmann - #5

Since winter break is coming up here shortly, I chose to select this picture of a log cabin at the Suncadia Resort in Washington state because this is somewhere I would like to go on vacation. Even though I am not going there, I can still think about how nice it would be to spend a couple weeks in a log cabin right off a lake or river. I'm sure that it will be very cold up there in Washington but it still seems like a nice getaway. This is where I would like to spend my holidays.

Daniel Gutmann - #12

This is a view of the famous Wrigley Field in Chicago. I visited Wrigley Field in 2008 on a trip with my church choir and was truly impressed at this stadium. As a Rangers fan all I am accustomed to is the Ballpark in Arlington, but it doesn't hold a candle to Wrigley Field. Everything from the bleacher seats to the smells of the ballpark it is an amazing place to watch a baseball game. Built in 1914 it is the second oldest ballpark in America. The stadium didn't even have lights installed until 1988, so there hasn't been a lot of night games played in there. Even if you are not a baseball fan, you should appreciate Wrigley Field and all the "Americana" that the stadium holds.

Daniel Gutmann - #11

This is a panoramic picture of inside the Louvre that I took when I was in Paris, France. I took the photo off my iPhone so it might not be as great of a picture as some, but I like the picture because it shows the overall beauty of the museum. This was taken in almost the center of the museum in the atrium. The Louvre (Musée du Louvre) is so big and holds so much famous art that it is almost impossible to see it all in one day. Every where you turn there is enormous detail in every part of the building that it is almost more beautiful than the most famous works of art in it. It was a great experience to see this building and vast in its spectacular elegance. 

Daniel Gutmann - #10

This is a picture of the Globe Theatre in London, England. The Globe Theatre was built in 1599 and made wildly popular by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare's play company actually owned the theatre and he preformed many performances in Globe Theatre. I never actually got to go into the theatre to take a tour. It is sort of hidden in-between multiple buildings along the river and kind of hard to find. It was rebuilt in 1614 and now does not hold any actual plays, just tours.

Daniel Gutmann - #9

This is a photo that I took of Buckingham Palace in London, England. This castle is home to the Queen of England and the other Royal Family. I saw this on my trip throughout Europe and was taken away by the sheer beauty of the structure. The palace was built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham, but was acquired by King George III for the queen to stay in. It is a very bug tourist attraction, and something that is a must see if you are ever in London.

Sam Melman - Colosseum (#12)

The Colosseum, its a spectacle and one of the most known buildings/amphitheaters in the world. It is a tourist attraction, destination, and one of the most intriguing buildings Ive seen. Its something that draws me to the other side of the world to go see because of the history, beauty, and pure amazement that this building entails. Its history dates back to gladiator days and Roman Empire. It is build of concrete and stone and the fact that it has withheld through all of this time amazes me. I can only imagine the events that went on in this amphitheater and wows me in every way. Definitely something I want to see in person and draws me to learn more about the arts and history.

Daniel Gutmann - #8

This is the Kansas City Public Library in Kansas City, Missouri. The library's outer walls were created to look like famous novels, as you can tell. The books actually hide the parking garage that is behind them. The library was chartered in 1873, but the addition of the books on the outer wall came much later. The library may seem very large from the outside, but is only the third largest in the Kansas City area. 

Sam Melman - Old Trafford (#11)

The host to the greatest soccer team in the English Premier League, Manchester United (in my opinion), is Old Trafford. It is stadium with so much tradition from its rambunctious fans, to its legendary green pitch, to the team that takes the field and calls it home. Ive always been amazed by the stadium and have always wanted to attend a soccer match there to see and feel what it is all about.

Sam Melman - Radio City Music Hall (#10)

This is Radio City Music Hall, one of the most famous and well known music halls in the United States. It is located in Rockefellar Center in New York City. Built in 1932, the music hall has flourished and has become an iconic destination in the United States.  The inside itself is a landmark and can seat up to 6000 people. Personally, it is on my top 10 places to see and experience an event there. There is so much history that has happened there and so many events that I wish I could have been apart of.

Sam Melman - Lincoln Memorial (#9)

The Lincoln Memorial will be a building and site that I will never forget. I got the chance to visit the Memorial when I was in middle school visiting Washington D.C. for the first time and this is one of the many iconic buildings and structures we had the chance to see. I won't ever forget how large the statue of Lincoln was and I'm sure anyone who has visited won't either. Its a historic site to see and was definitely one to check off my bucket list.

#6 William Adams - Agra Fort

Just across the river from the Taj Mahal is Agra fort.  In my opinion this was more spectacular than the Taj itself.  It is also where the rest of the story occurs.  Because of the King’s grief he wasn’t very concerned about ruling the people.  His son saw an opportunity and seized control.  He locked up his father in Agra fort for the rest of his life.  The old King spent the remainder of his life wandering around the fort, which was as sumptuous as a palace, within sight of the tomb of his beloved. 

#5 William Adams - Taj Mahal

 

 

This tomb was built by a King to honor his beloved wife.  Many think that the Taj Mahal is simply the building, but it is a vast garden enclosure with a mosque and other outbuildings.  When I visited I had the chance to spend the entire day there.  I was able to walk through the gardens, pause by the fountains and to go inside the buildings.  We had a guide who would relate the story of this King and all that he went through to show his love for his late wife. 

#4 William Adams - Lotus Temple

The Lotus Temple in Delhi, India was a fantastic building to visit!  It is visually striking and the grounds and gardens are kept immaculate.  It was designed by Fariborz Sahba, who currently lives in Canada.  The architechure was made to follow some of the religious tennents of the Baha’i faith.  The interior is a vast expanse of space where one can sit and think, meditate, or pray to God without any distractions. 

Davis Dillingham Post #12

This is the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City.  The new arena was completed in 2012 and has already had a lot of popularity.  The modern design is shown with the many curves and lines on the outside of the building.  One thing I find very interesting is the color.  It seems that today there are not many buildings with such a dark color.  I find the color however to creative and refreshing to architecture.  The oculus outside of the building is also very different.  I hope to be able to see it in person some day and hope to see its influence on other architecture.

Davis Dillingham Post #11

This is the Elizabeth tower on the north end of the Palace of Westminster, or more commonly known as Big Ben, in London, England.  The clock tower was completed in 1858 and is now one of the most prominent symbols for the United Kingdom.  For some reason I have always absolutely loved this clock tower and building.  They are both very detailed and seem to take you back to a different era when you look at them.  It is a beautiful tower and I also hope to visit it one day.

Davis Dillingham Post #10

This is the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, NY.  The building was originally built in 1939, but has been renovated throughout the years including an expansion that nearly doubled its space in the early 2000's.  The architecture shows off a contemporary design and also somewhat demonstrates a modern art piece.  It did seem very strange to me however, that the building seems very out of place with the other buildings surrounding it.  I do still enjoy the design and layout of it, and hope to visit it some day.

Davis Dillingham Post #9

This is the Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa, OK.  The building was built in 1925 and was recently restored to avoid demolition.  It is now known as an essential part of Tulsa as it houses the hotel, lofts, apartments, and a bar.  The building has a classic look outside, but the inside restoration looks incredible.  This building is one that I am proud to have in my hometown of Tulsa.

James Curtin - Machu Picchu, Peru - Post 12

This is Machu Picchu, in the Peruvian Andes. I have not yet been there but I may be going there this summer. Machu Picchu is of course not a single building but actually a temple complex with many buildings, and as they are no longer used (or have roofs) they are perhaps more accurately described as ruins than buildings. But still, what a great use of siting. I really hope I get to make this trip. It has to be one of the best preserved examples of pre-Colombian architecture in the Western Hemisphere.

Davis Dillingham Post #8

This is the Walt Disney Concert Hall located in downtown Los Angeles, California.  I have never personally been to this building or California at all but I have always been fascinated by it.  I love all of the curves and lines, as well as it looking like many different pieces.  I also like the shiny metallic outer facade also.  I hope I can visit it sometime in my life.

James Curtin - Pantheon, Rome - Post 11

 The front portico of the Pantheon, and the Piazza della Rotonda.

Arial shot of the Pantheon, with the Oculus in the center of the dome. 

View of the coffered concrete ceiling and the oculus.

 Panoramic view of the interior.

This is the Pantheon in Rome. I have never been to Rome, but I have wanted to see the Pantheon for a long time. Built 2000 years ago, it still has the largest, un-reinforced, concrete dome in the world. Somehow, the ancient Romans where able to mix and pour that much concrete into a supported molds up to 142 ft in the air. The oculus is the whole in the center of the dome. It does three things, it allows a lot of light into what would otherwise have been a very dark building, it allows the smoke of what would have been flame sourced lighting in ancient times to escape, and most importantly it makes the concrete dome possible by eliminating a lot of weight from the dome at its weakest point. in fact the Romans used a lot of different tricks to make the dome lighter, such as decreasing its thickness as they went up, using lighter aggregate on higher levels, and having honeycombed sections to save weight. These are all techniques that we would still use in modern times. As an engineering student I find the building fascinating.

Davis Dillingham #7

This, of course, is the Devon Tower in downtown Oklahoma City.  This building I believe has meant a lot to Oklahoma.  The tower is easily the tallest building in Oklahoma and its modern design attracts the eye immediately.  The tower gives OKC more of a big city vibe in a smaller city with a quickly growing economy.  The tower gives the people a new hope and excitement about the future of OKC and what may be to come.

Davis Dillingham Post #5

This is the Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK.  This particular picture is a digital rendering of what the stadium will look like once the renovations are done. The lower section of seating will be filled in to where the "bowl" is completed.  The press box will also be completely redone along with other renovations.  The stadium holds many great memories for me and a great amount of other people. I really look forward to making many more memories in this newly renovated stadium.  I really like the design of the new press box and how it reflects the rest of the architecture on campus in particular.

Davis Dillingham Post #6

This is the Bizzell Memorial Library at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK.  This large, brick library fits beautifully as the centerpiece for the campus.  Its architecture is called "Cherokee Gothic" and is shown in many of the other buildings around campus.  It is a gorgeous building to be able to walk by and admire every day.  It is also the second most photographed building in Oklahoma.

Davis Dillingham Post #4

This is the Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion in Tulsa, OK.  I have loved this building since I was a little kid.  I remember seeing various events inside, but always liked the way the outside of it looked.  It has many golden pictures of animals and other agricultural images along the top on the building, which is another example of art deco architecture.

James Curtin - Washington Monument, Washington, DC - Post 10

Washington Monument, between the US Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial.

Washington Monument as seen from the Lincoln Memorial with the reflecting pool in between. 

Washington Monument light at night.

The Washington Monument, originally completed in 1885, was the tallest building in the world until completion of the Eiffel Tower. It is still the tallest stone building (it has no metal frame, the masonry fully supports the building), tallest obelisk, and tallest building in Washington, DC. The monument is 555 feet and 5 inches tall. It is in fact more than 200 ft taller than the second tallest building in D.C., The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (329 ft). Because the building is so much taller than any other buildings in the city, the view from the small view windows at the top is unparrelleled in the city. 

Despite living in the D.C. area for so long and visiting the Mall (the grounds between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial) often, I only went to the top once in 1997. It's quite I sight. I just wish the weather had been better so that the pictures I took would have turned out better.

Davis Dillingham Post #3

This is the beautiful Boston Avenue Church in Tulsa, OK.  Set in downtown Tulsa, this big church building is one of the architectural icons of Tulsa.  I personally have always been fascinated by the building and how much it stands out.  It does however very much exemplify the art deco style of architecture that Tulsa is recognized for.

Sam Melman - Oklahoma City Museum of Art (#8)

This building is the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. I had the chance to visit this over the holidays with my family and was really cool to see what it had to offer. I wasn't much of a fan of museums, but that came to change when I got to see the exhibit of young Chinese art that the museum was showing. It really opened my eyes of the creativity that people have and the artwork people can make, especially in the Chinese exhibit that we got to see. Another exhibit in the Museum was the Dale Chihuly glass blowing exhibit and was such a sight to see. From the picture above, you can see his work which is featured right when you walk into the Museum. This glass sculpture makes the building pop when you see it because it is so big and intriguing and the Museum itself is an exhibit just form the outside focusing on this piece.